The Line Between Us

	{{#if: It was on this day that Cybertron received a grim reminder... \|; It was on this day that Cybertron received a grim reminder...}}}}
	"The Line Between Us" {{#if: \| {{#if: \|; (')}} {{#if:\|; ""}}}}
Publisher	IDW Publishing}}
Published by	}}
Imprint	}}
Published in	}}
First published	September 21, 2016}}
Shipping date	}}
On-sale date	}}
Cover date	September 2016}}
Credits	}}
By	}}
Manga	}}
Manga by	}}
Original story	}}
Story & art by	}}
Story and color art	}}
Story	}}
Story by	}}
Story consultants	}}
Story concept	}}
Screenplay by	}}
Screenplay	}}
Adaptation by	}}
Adapted by	}}
Adaptation	}}
Based on	}}
Writer	}}
Writers	}}
Writing	}}
Written by	Mairghread Scott}}
Written & art	}}
Plotter	}}
Plotters	}}
Plot	}}
Plot by	}}
Plot/Script	}}
Scripter	}}
Scripters	}}
Script	}}
Scripting	}}
Script by	}}
Script and art	}}
Sript [sic] consultant	}}
Translation by	}}
Artist	}}
Comic artist	}}
Artists	}}
Art	}}
Art by	Sara Pitre-Durocher}}
Additional art by	}}
Flashback art by	}}
Art assistant	}}
Art assist by	}}
Line-art	}}
Line-art by	}}
Line art by	}}
Penciller	}}
Pencillers	}}
Penciler	}}
Pencilers	}}
Pencil art	}}
Pencils	}}
Pencils by	}}
Penciled by	}}
Penciling	}}
Guest penciler	}}
Layouts	}}
Pencil breakdowns	}}
Breakdowns	}}
Breakdowns by	}}
Illustration	}}
Illustrations	}}
Illustrator	}}
Illustrated by	}}
Illustration by	}}
Illustrations by	}}
Finished pencils	}}
Finishes	}}
Finished art	}}
Finishes by	}}
Inker	}}
Guest inker	}}
Inkers	}}
Inks	}}
Inks by	}}
Ink finishes	}}
Ink assist by	}}
Additional inks	}}
Inking	}}
Backgrounds	}}
Backgrounds by	}}
Colorist	}}
Colorists	}}
Colourist	}}
Colourists	}}
Color	}}
Colors	}}
Color art	}}
Colour	}}
Colours	}}
Colored by	}}
Color by	}}
Colors by	Joana Lafuente}}
Color art by	}}
Colors assist by	}}
Color assists	}}
Color assistance by	}}
Additional colors	}}
Additional colors by	}}
Color assist by	}}
Colour/Computer FX	}}
Computer coloring/effects	}}
Color Reconstruction	}}
Flats	}}
Flats by	}}
MTMTE Profiles	}}
Letterer	}}
Letterers	}}
Lettering	}}
Letters	}}
Letters by	Tom B. Long}}
Lettered by	}}
Lettering\|Production	}}
To}}	}}
Collaborators	}}
Contributors	}}
Editor	John Barber and Carlos Guzman}}
Editors	}}
Editing	}}
Edits by	}}
Compiled and Edited by	}}
Original series editor	}}
Original Edits by	}}
Deputy editor	}}
Assistant editor	}}
s}}	}}
Editorial Assistance; provided by	}}
Senior editor	}}
Associate editor	}}
Story consultant	}}
Project manager	}}
Production by	}}
Designer	}}
Design by	}}
Designed by	}}
Design/editorial	}}
Book design by	}}
Collection designer	}}
Collection editor	}}
Collection Edits by	}}
Graphic design	}}
Graphic design by	}}
Collection Design by	}}
/ Layout}}	}}
Contributing editors	}}
s}}	}}
Managing editor	}}
Editor-in-chief\|Editor in chief}}	}}
Editorial consultant	}}
Dinosaur consultant	}}
Publishing manager	}}
Cover	}}
ist}}{{#if: \| by}}	}}
and Elements }}by	}}
Inside cover	}}
Apologies to	}}
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity}}
Chronology	Current era}}
ISBN	}}
TPB ISBN	ISBN }}
UPC	}}
Page count	}}
Price	}}
Packaged with	}}
Printed in	}}
Animation	}}
Music	}}

{{#if: TAAO4 regcvr.jpg | {{#if: IDW Publishing | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: September 21, 2016 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: September 2016 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Mairghread Scott | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Sara Pitre-Durocher | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Joana Lafuente | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Tom B. Long | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: John Barber and Carlos Guzman | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: 2005 IDW continuity | {{#if: Current era | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: |

{{#switch:{{#sub:titans return|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

When the Combaticons unleash their combined form of Bruticus, Chromia realizes that the only way to save the day is to unleash some secrets of her own.

Synopsis

Onslaught activates the Enigma of Combination, merging himself and the other Combaticons with the brain-dead Swindle to become "Bruticus". Vortex revels in the unchecked power of their new form, while Brawl finds himself caught in the terror of Swindle's memory of death; Blast Off tries to keep their minds united, calling to Onslaught for help, but the Combaticon leader is focused on rooting through their shared consciousness to find the information that is the reason for their combination. It does not take long: Onslaught soon locates Swindle's memory of Starscream recruiting him to attack Caminus, and discovers that Swindle secretly recorded their entire conversation. Onslaught, Vortex, and Brawl all vow vengeance upon Starscream for what he has done, but Blast Off reminds them that their goal is to expose Starscream so justice can be properly done, and urges them to go in search of Swindle's recording. With ideologies dueling inside his mind, Bruticus violently emerges onto Iacon's streets and is soon confronted by Ironhide and his security forces. Realizing that the combiner is formed from the Combaticons—including his recent protégé Blast Off—Ironhide offers Bruticus a chance to surrender; Blast Off tries to make his comrades see reason, but Onslaught considers the security forces as just another obstruction and has Bruticus begin attacking them all.

As the Council of Worlds is evacuated to safety, Starscream calls Windblade to his side. He blames her failure to follow his orders to spy on Onslaught for the chaos that Iacon now finds itself in, and demands she find a way to kill Bruticus. Windblade refuses to kill to protect Starscream's secrets, but Starscream once again reminds her that if she does not comply, he will reveal the secrets he knows about her and Chromia's bombing. This proves the last straw: refusing to live under Starscream's thumb any longer, Windblade contacts Chromia and announces her intent to help the Combaticons expose the dirt they have on Starscream, regardless of the consequences for her. But once Bruticus has been brought down, she insists that Chromia must go back to Caminus, never to return, to keep her safe from reprisals.

Chromia convinces Ironhide and his men to stand down while Windblade attempts to talk to Bruticus. Unfortunately, it does not go well: the Combaticon combiner angrily swats her out of the sky. Chromia rushes to her side, just as Bruticus levels his cannons to blast them both... forcing Ironhide to take drastic action, emptying his rocket launcher directly into Bruticus's head. Gravely damaged, Bruticus disengages into the separate Combaticons; with his last words before passing out, Blast Off apologizes to Onslaught for being unable to save him from himself. Even as Windblade desperately tries to rouse the unconscious Combaticons to get the vital information needed from them, Chromia turns on Ironhide, accusing him of ruining everything. Surveying the scene, Chromia spots Circuit and Longtooth reporting on the event, and sees a chance to yet make everything right. She marches over to the two news-bots, and, live on-camera, explains that she was responsible for the bombing in Acrolight District a year ago, and the earthquake that followed. Ironhide is left with no option but to reluctantly arrest her, but Chromia just smiles a sad smile and tells him that one cannot stay in the shadows for ever. As the Combaticons are carried away, Starscream grimaces at the loss of his leverage, and Windblade stands alone on the battlefield, having lost both her chance to expose Starscream... and her best friend.

Featured characters

{{#if:* Wheeljack (1)

Chromia (3)
Ironhide (11)
Windblade (19)|

{{#if:* Wheeljack (1)

Chromia (3)
Ironhide (11)
Windblade (19)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Wheeljack (1)
Chromia (3)
Ironhide (11)
Windblade (19) }}{{#if:* Bruticus (4)
Blast Off (5)
Vortex (6)
Onslaught (7)
Brawl (8)
Swindle (9)
Sparkstalker (13)
Fat Tankor (14)
Tall Tankor (15)|

Autobots }}{{#if:* Bruticus (4)

Blast Off (5)
Vortex (6)
Onslaught (7)
Brawl (8)
Swindle (9)
Sparkstalker (13)
Fat Tankor (14)
Tall Tankor (15)|

Decepticons }}{{#if:|

Humans }}{{#if:* Rattrap (2)

Starscream (10)
Air Hammer (12)
Moonracer (16)
Knock Out (17)
Strika (18)
Longtooth (20)
Circuit (21)|

Others }}{{#if:|

Misc }}{{#if:|

Misc }}

Bruticus (4)
Blast Off (5)
Vortex (6)
Onslaught (7)
Brawl (8)
Swindle (9)
Sparkstalker (13)
Fat Tankor (14)
Tall Tankor (15) }}{{#if:|

}}{{#if:* Rattrap (2)

Starscream (10)
Air Hammer (12)
Moonracer (16)
Knock Out (17)
Strika (18)
Longtooth (20)
Circuit (21)|

Rattrap (2)
Starscream (10)
Air Hammer (12)
Moonracer (16)
Knock Out (17)
Strika (18)
Longtooth (20)
Circuit (21) }}{{#if:|

}}{{#if:|

}}

Quotes

Blast Off: "Keep it together! We have to work—urgh—together!"
Vortex: "Haha! Do you feel it? So powerful! We're Bruticus!"
Brawl: "No... we're dead! He shot us—we'redeadwe'redeadwe'redead"

—The Combaticons react to their first combination

"I'm—I'm sorry, Onslaught. I wanted to— I couldn't... save... you..."

—Blast Off

"My name is Chromia of Caminus, and I have a confession to make. When I first arrived on Cybertron, I set a bomb in the Acrolight district, killing three 'bots: Scrap Cruncher, Exhaust, and Technimus. I am also responsible for the earthquake that happened afterward."
"Uhhh... why?"
"Because I was just like that combiner, or the Badgeless that killed that 'Con behind Maccadam's, or everyone who won't give up their stupid war. I thought I was different... an "us" against "them." I acted alone because I thought I was alone. I thought no one else mattered. I hope you learn from my mistakes."

—Chromia and Circuit

Notes

Continuity notes

And with this issue, the fourth and final of the original 1986 "Special Team" combiners finally makes an appearance, a mere 6 years after the first one appeared way back in The Transformers #5. At least Bruticus made his appearance before any of the 1987 combiners showed up...
The memory Onslaught recovers from Swindle is from The Transformers #39. Pitre-Durocher redraws the final panel from page 16 of that issue, and the whole scene is presented with a slightly murky, static-textured overlay in a likely nod to the art style of Livio Ramondelli, who drew that issue. Starscream is correctly drawn in the Armada-inspired body he was sporting at the time.
Among the fleeing crowd on page 4 is Beast Wars Fuzor Air Hammer, who previously appeared in the original glimpse of Eukaris offered in Windblade vol. 1 #4.
The names "Technimus" and "Exhaust" seen scored into Chromia's skin in issue #1 are revealed to be those of the civilians who died in her bombing from Windblade vol. 1 #1. The third 'bot who died is named Scrap Cruncher, but we don't see his full name; only the letters "er" are visible on part of her upper head. Presumably, his name is on the other side.
Windblade will next appear in the Titans Return one-shot and The Transformers vol. 2 #57 before resuming the regular Till All Are One lineup.

Transformers references

Ironhide's emotional reaction to Chromia being in danger and the actions he takes as a result of that are another nod to the characters' romantic relationship in the original Generation 1 cartoon episode "The Search for Alpha Trion," which has been "ship-teased" a few times since Chromia and Ironhide started sharing page-space in IDW.

Covers (3)

Regular cover: Ironhide stares up at Bruticus in homage to the promotional poster for the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Attack on Titan|{{#if:||Attack on Titan}}]] anime, by Sara Pitre-Durocher
Subscription cover: Chromia and Windblade dodge Bruticus's giant fist, by Priscilla Tramontano
Retailer incentive cover: Windblade, Ironhide, and a few Badgeless, by Thomas Deer

Reprints

The Transformers: Till All Are One, Volume 1 (December 14, 2016) ISBN 1631408089 / ISBN 978-1631408083
- Collects Till All Are One issues #1–4.
- Bonus material includes art from most covers.
- Trade paperback format.

Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 75: Titans Return, Part 1 (February 7, 2018)
- Collects Till All Are One issues #1–4, Titans Return #1, The Transformers (2012) issues #56–57, and More than Meets the Eye issues #56–57.
- Bonus material includes a two-page article on the beginnings of More than Meets the Eye and Robots in Disguise.
- Hardcover format.

The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 12 (February 10, 2021) ISBN 1684057469 / ISBN 978-1684057467
- Collects The Transformers (2012) issues #51–55 & #56–57, Till All Are One issues #1–4, Titans Return #1, and More than Meets the Eye issues #56–57.
- Hardcover format.

Till All Are One, Volume 1 – cover art by Sara Pitre-Durocher
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 75: Titans Return, Part 1 – cover art by Don Figueroa (Arcee) and Livio Ramondelli (retro)
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 12 – cover art by Marcelo Matere

External links

Preview

Search